Trainee Solicitor Review

Excellent training - considered one of the best in the city. Excellent opportunities with the chance to get really stuck in to transactions. It's a small firm but you do not have to sacrifice the quality of work. The small trainee cohort means you get to be meaningfully involved in the same top work that is done in the US and Magic Circle firms.

As a trainee, you are involved in project management - it is your job to make sure everything runs smoothly! You also have direct contact with clients, and are involved in drafting and negotiation. Ultimately, the training contract is learning experience, however, you also do the real day-to-day legal work of a solicitor.

As a trainee, you are a valued member of the team. Law firms are hierarchical, however, as law firms go Macfarlanes operates a flat structure. Partners are more than willing to talk to you and explain the tasks - prepare yourself to work directly with Partners! The firm is small and so you are deeply involved in ther running of matters.

You can't argue with the remuneration package at Macfarlanes - it is one of the highest paying London headquartered law firms from trainee to associate. The firm hosts an unlimited free barista-run cafe (each drink order is also matched by a payment to the firm's charity of the year!) and provides free dinners. Lunches are subsidised and the pension plan is very generous. The hours can be relatively long - however, not beyond what you expect at other similar law firms. The only other thing missing is a Deliveroo budget!

Excellently - the training contract is considered one of the best in the city. Macfarlanes trainees are highly sought after in the market. Alongside market leading work, the firm also provides classroom style teaching. Teaching is core to the firm and includes even at associate and Partner level. The firm has a Knowledge department which offers 1-1 coaching skills teaching. Top marks in this regard.

Very good. HR will do regular pastoral check ups to ensure you are doing well. As well as this you have a Partner principal across the two year training contract as well as a trainee-partner committee to ensure your concerns as a trainee are listened to.

Considering the status of the firm, the level of clients and the pay, you are able to maintain a flexible work-life balance. Partners and associates are generally respectful of plans, and will do their best not to overwork you. However, the job does demand a certain level of attention and sacrifice - so be prepared for that! We do not have a billing culture and no billable hour targets. It seems that compared to our competitors we have a very good work-life balance.

Very welcoming, kind firm - especially for a firm of its stature. The firm is relatively relaxed and does not have a billing culture.

The firm knows it still has a lot of work to do especially on the senior end. However, the firm really cares about this matter. They have scholarships with universities like Brunnel University and the junior cohorts are very diverse.

Yes

Macfarlanes is one of the best law firms in the City to train at. The level of training is excellent and the exposure to work is unrivalled. The small size and small trainee cohort means that trainees are stuck in to the matters from the start of the seat. This all exists in a well supported, structured and guided training programme.

My expectations have been exceeded. I was surprised at how directly I was involved in our matters and how early (in the first week, I was talking to clients!).